Sanullim (산울림) | |
---|---|
Origin | Seoul |
Genres | Rock, Gayo, Psychedelic rock |
Years active | 1971–2008 |
Labels | Seorabeol Record, LOEN Entertainment (formerly YBM Seoul Records) |
Past members |
Kim Chang-wan (김창완) Kim Chang-hoon (김창훈) Kim Chang-ik (김창익) |
Sanullim (산울림, 1971~2008), also spelled Sanulrim, is a South Korean power trio rock band. The name of the band is the combination of words, "san" (산, mountain) and "ullim" (울림, echo). The band is considered to be one of the most influential figures in Korean rock music. Their musical experiments varied from songs for children to progressive/psychedelic rock.
Sanullim broke up after the death of the drummer, Kim Chang-ik (김창익), in 2008.
The three members of Sanulrim are brothers, not unlike the bands Gentle Giant and the Bee Gees. They were Kim Chang-wan (김창완, 1954-), Kim Chang-hoon (김창훈, 1956-), Kim Chang-ik (김창익, 1958-2008).
The band, formed when the three were university students, was initially called 무이 (Mui) and was never meant to be professional. Kim Chang-hoon's other college band, named "Sand Pebbles," won the MBC College K-pop Festival with their song, "나 어떡해 (What Shall I Do)". Mui was initially nominated to win with their song, "문좀 열어줘 (Please Open the Door)" but was not qualified because Kim Chang-wan had already graduated from the university.
Gaining confidence, the band looked for a music agency and changed the name of the band into 'Sanulrim' by their new manager's demand.
The band released their first album in December 1977. The album largely impacted the Korean music scene and became both critically and commercially successful. The album, entitled vol.1 아니벌써 (vol.1 What, Already?) brought new type of music which Koreans had never heard before. People were absorbed with the psychedelic/hard rock sound the band produced. Sanulrim's appearance in the music scene was also dramatic and significant because they vitalized the Korean music scene, which was currently devastated after several major musicians were arrested for marijuana possession around the middle of 1970's.
During 1977-1984, they released 10 or more albums and helped other musicians. With the K-pop retrospective boom during the 1990s, all of their the albums were reissued and a tribute album was released. Sanulrim performed in Seoul on July 5, 2007 and July 6, 2007 for their 30th anniversary and planned to release a vol. 14 album within the same year.
On January 29, 2008, drummer Kim Chang-ik was killed in a traffic accident while driving a forklift during heavy snow in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Kim Chang-wan announced the end of the band after his brother's death.